As a parent of 4 children I thought it would be easy to potty train my toddler. After all I already had 3 older children right? WRONG! It turned out that my toddler was actually the most difficult of all my kids combined. It was actually a chore to potty train her and I have to be honest that my work schedule didn’t really help much either. It certainly confused her that on weekends when I was home she was in underwear and then during the week while I went to work, she was in the familiar diaper.
It was one of the reasons why I decided that Pampers Easy Ups was the way to go. It was a way to transition from diaper to underwear since it was more like underwear to her. Potty training isn’t easy and as most parents know there can be set backs. So together with Pampers Easy Ups and Dr. Laura Jana a pediatrician we’ve put together a few tips to help you with your potty training goal and make it a success.
I received a gift package from Pampers to help make our potty training go a little smoother. Included was a pack of Pampers Easy Ups, a Little Looster Step Stool, a Potty Ring, a “It’s You and Me against the Pee… and Poop too!” book and a $50 AMEX gift card. One of the thing I love about Pampers Easy Ups is the fact that I never have to worry about leaks. I am confident knowing that my toddler can go for hours without a diaper change. They have an absorbent core that holds 25% more than other leading training pants helping to ensure that she stays dry. Plus, with up to 12 hours of protection, it works during the day AND night, enabling toddlers and moms to confidently and completely transition from diapers towards underwear.
Now I’ve shared a few potty training tips along the way and while they have been working for me here are 3 others that Dr. Jana wants to share with you and what resonated with me.
1. Watch for the signs.
There are several characteristic signs and developmental abilities you can watch for that suggest children are ready to potty train. These signs of potty training readiness typically include the ability to use their words to express themselves, toddle their own way to the bathroom, pull down their own pants, and to be aware of the sensation of peeing or pooping (characteristically noticeable when young children suddenly stop what they’re doing as they feel themselves start to pee. Or when they start hiding behind the sofa or standing in a corner to poop. It is also helpful (and increases the likelihood of potty training interest) when children start to be bothered by their poopy and/or wet diapers, as that can serve as a good motivation for using the potty instead!
2. Promote potty learning.
Instead of referring to your child’s transition from wearing diapers to using the potty as “potty training,” consider calling it “potty learning.” After all, mastering this eagerly anticipated milestone of childhood takes time, teaching, and plenty of practice and patience!
3. Take a teamwork approach.
From the outset, I find it helps to keep in mind that potty training is a team sport. If you simply remind yourself that you are (and always will be) on the same team as your child, it can really help you stay calm in the face of potty accidents and be a much more positive and effective potty training coach.
So tell me: What other potty training tips do you have to share? What worked or didn’t work for you?
